St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-04
DRIED SCOTT AT SMELLING

In the year 1889 the Fifth United
States Infantry was stationed on the
upper Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.
and, although Fort Crawford prairie
du CHEM was their Headquarters, Fort
Smelling was the most important, it be-
ing the only military post north of
Prairle du Chen between Lake Supe-
rlor and the Pacific ocean, and far from
the frontier, as the nearest settlement
was several hundred miles away.
During the season of open water the
post was reached by boats, and in the
winter by pony or dog trains. but in the
spring before the river was free of float
ing ice and in the fall before it was
frozen, the inhabitants were almost cut
OH from civilization. as the place was
considered inaccessible by all but the
hardy Voyageur and the postman who
brought the mail on his back twice a
month from Prairie du Chen. For
Smelling was the only poStOffice in what
is now Minnesota, Dakota and Montanat
1t was seldom that a stranger made
his appearance after the close of navi-
CATION, for the timid did not venture so
far from the comforts of life In the
fall of this year r. P. Rus
SELL, now of Minneapolis. ar
rived at the post, having walked
through deep snow most of the way
from Prairie du Chen, camping out
nights and having for a companion Il
half-breed Sioux by the name of ALEX
GRAHAM. Later, after the ice had
formed, JACOB w. BASS, of Prairie du
Chen. now an old settler of ST. Paul,
made his appearance, having come all
the way with pony train on the river.
He brought some newspapers about
four weeks old and also such news as
had reached him before leaving home,
all fresh and welcome to the occupants
OF the fort. Then Mr.. BASS did not
hesitate to face the blizzard, but now he
follows the birds. In those days fur
garments were not used, although furs
were the only articles of commerce
known to the country. Canned meats,
fish, vegetables and fruits were not i'll
existence. Goldfish and dried apples
were delicacieS. Storm windows and
furnaces were not thought of, and
stoves were considered Injuries.
Speaking of stoves reminds the writer
of all incident that occurred one cold,
dreary day in the fall of the year men
toned above. The quartermaster an
nounced that he was ready to distribute
the government stoves, but as he did
not have enough for all, the officers
would be first cared for and if any were
left they would be given to soldiers
with families. The surgeon, DR.. ENIER-
son. a giant in body, applied for one for
his slave, DRIED SCOTT. but was told by
Lieut.. MCPHAIL, the quartermaSter,
who was a man under size, that the
darky would have to wait until the
others were supplied, and it was doubt
full If there were enough for all. The
doctor became very much excited and
insinuated that MCPHAIL was lying,
whereupon the latter hit the doctor be-
tween the eyes, breaking his spectacles
and bruising his nose. EMERSON, very
much Infatuated, rushed to his quar-
tiers, loaded pair of huge fiintlock
pistols, returned to MCPHAIL, who was
unarmed. and without ceremony pre-
sented them to the head of the little
quartermaster. He, not liking their
looks, sought safety in Highland with
speed that showed a good condition of
body ran across the parade ground, fol-
lowed by the doctor. AS they neared
MCPHAIL'S company quarters a friend
Of his, Lieut.. WHITEHALL, and SER
geant, seized firearms, prepared to give
heir assistance if it was needed. The
commanding officer, Mai. PLYMPToN,
armed with cane, ran after the doctor
and upon Overtaking him put him under
arrest. By this time the occupants of
all the quarters had gathered upon the
scene, too excited to feel the cold or
think of stoves, and two parties were
quickly formed. The smaller party
consisted of the young men, who,
anxious for a fight, insisted
that by running MCPHAIL had
brought disgrace upon himself which
could be wiped out only by blood. The
other and influential side was composed
of men with families, who knew that in
case of illness no other physician could
be gotten except from Prairie du Chen,
and the roads were such that it might
be impossible to get one at all; therefore
they urged peace, and after several days
of excitement they were able to unfurl
Element between the beligerents were
not made known, and those who had
hoped for fight felt that the secrecy
added largely to their already heavy
but the men of peace
wore an expression of relief when they
realized that if ill, their victory would
enable them to obtain the immediate
services of the doctor, and that there
would not be a repetition of the duel
which had been fought there many
years before, the first and last duel ever
fought in Minnesota. Although peace
was declared. bitter feelings which had
risen during the strife still fingered in
the heads of all but DRIED SCOTT, the
innocent cause of the trouble, who for
the first time in his life became
at all conspicuous. Shortly after, how
ever, his name was as well known and
Oftener heard in social, military and
political circles than any other; heard
not only in his own country, but abroad.
He left Fort Smelling with DR.. EMERSON,
and was afterwards in Missouri, where
he was one day whipped, as he had often
been before. But this proved to be the
last time the poor fellow intended sub
hitting as slave, for Immediately after
a suit was commenced for assault and
battery, claiming that as he had been in
a free territory he was free man. His
master dying, his widow and daughter
defended the suit, which was decided in
their favor two days after the Inaugural
ton of President BUCHANAN, and DRIED
SCOTT was remanded to slavery. This
was considered great victory for the
South, but i'll reality was not, for the
civilized world became aroused in be-
half of freedom, and public opinion, the
higher law, was invoked. Civil war soon
followed; slavery was abolished, and
DRIED SCOTT made free. 1t was half
century ago that this supplemented
negro lived in slavery in Hennepin, the
historical county of Minnesota.